BenQ W1070 projector: Impressive picture for a low price (pictures)

Overview

If you think that "budget projector" means those under-powered, handheld pico projectors, then you should think again. Like most everything else in consumer electronics, serious, wall-filling home theater projectors continue to get cheaper and better -- and models like the BenQ W1070 really stand out.

Here is a projector that includes 3D, has onboard speakers, and is almost small enough to fit in a "man bag," yet is capable of fine image quality. Colors are excellent and black levels are good enough for the money. Its picture blows away any pico projector you would care to name.

While the BenQ does cut some corners, you probably won't be able to find a better big-screen experience for this amount of money. Firstly, though the 3D picture is very good, there are no glasses included. If you buy two pairs of glasses at $99 each (you must use BenQ's glasses with this unit), you end up paying almost the same as the Epson 3020, which has a similar level of 2D and 3D picture quality.

Don't want 3D, and just need a big image for a little money? I can think of nothing else at the price that will give you what the BenQ does.

Remote

Manual lens shift and focus controls

Connectivity

Controls

Photo by: Sarah Tew/CNET

Side

Photo by: Sarah Tew/CNET

Lens cap

Photo by: Sarah Tew/CNET

Projector top

Photo by: Sarah Tew/CNET

Menu

Photo by: Sarah Tew/CNET

Grayscale

Photo by: Sarah Tew/CNET

Picture quality

In many of the tests, including black levels, the BenQ and the Epson 3020 were neck-and-neck, with the BenQ losing to the Epson slightly on shadow detail and reproducing more-natural colors, especially in darker areas. I also appreciated that it didn't require a (noisy) iris like the Epson.

The 3D replay was excellent and better than that on most TVs of any price for both lack of cross-talk and image "pop." It's just a shame that the company expects $99 a "pop" for you to enjoy it.